Dishwashing machine



Oct. kl, 1935. H. P. MEssLoR DISHWASHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 31, 1928 2 Sheets-.Sheet l mvENToR n Harry j? Me `ssar ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 1, 1935 Harry l. Mes'slor, Trenton, N. J., assigner toG. S.

Blakeslee js; Co., Cicero, a corporation of` Illinois Applicationbeccmber 3l, 1928, Serial No. `329,481

irclaims.

'I'his `invention relates to` dish vwashing ma; chines, and more particularly to `closure means therefor.` i

In dish washing machines in which the dishes and other articles are washed by spraysprojected thereagainst in a housing or casing, it is desirable that suitable closure means be providedv to prevent spraying or splashing ofthe washing solution or water out of the casing through the openings provided for insertion and removal of .the dishesv and other articles. In the smaller type of machine adapted for use in restaurants, hospitals and similar places and intended to be operated by one person, it is desirable that means be provided whereby the closures at both ends of the housing or casing of the machine can bevreadily opened andclosed to give access'to, andto close the casing, as required.

Preferably, this means for operating the doors or closure members should serve to` effectively hold the doors in open position so as to give ready access to the machine from either end thereof. It is also desirable that the Adoor supporting and operating means be so constructed as to eliminate possibility of leakage of the water or washing solution from the casing aboutsuch parts. Further objects and advantages of my invention will apfpear from the detailed description: In the drawings: n 30' Fig. 1 is an end view of a washing machine constructed in accordance with myinvention showing the door partly closed with lthe curtain raised.

Fig. `2 is a front vview of the machine showing the doors in partly raised or open position. 35A Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially online 3--3v of Fig. 4. y V

Fig. 4 `is a fragmentary front view, on an en-v larged scale, of the washing machine showing door operating means applied thereto in, accord- 40 ance with myinvention, the doors being in partly openposition. i i I Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view looking toward the back wall of the casing illustrating the relative positions of the members ofthe door operating i5` means when the doors are closed..

Fig. 6 is an end view ofthe preferred construction of one of the doors embodied in my invention.

I have .illustrated my invention as applied to a washing machine comprising a `box-like casing 5' l suitably reinforced and provided with angle iron corner posts 2. This casing contains.- suitable ltracks I, which may be formedof angle strips, for

`supporting baskets or trays containing the dishes andfother articles to be washed.

55 i Sprayheads or boxes! may be provided within the casing above and below tl'i'etracks 3 for projecting sprays `of washing solution or rinsing water againstl the dishes and other articles. The spray-` heads Vor boxes I aresuitably connected to a pipe- 5 to which the washing solutionor rinsingwaterv 5 may be supplied in a suitable manner, as' by means of a pump. A suitableV valve 6 controlled by a handle 'l is interposed in pipe! for controlling the supply of washing solution orrinsing water to thispipe and to the spray-heads or boxes.` The 10 lower portion of casing I,`beneath the tracks Il,` constitutes a tank and an overflow pipe 8 opensinto this tank to take off the surplus water therefrom. The washing machine so far described is, in general, of known construction and operation 15 and needv not be further illustrated Anor described in detail. i i

The casing I is provided, at each end thereof, withan opening 9. This opening is defined by the corner posts 2, top plate Ia of casing I and 20 the upper edge of the end wall I0 of the lower portion of thecasing which constitutes the tank Ib. The water from the spray-heads or boxes I is projectedagainst the dishes and other articles within the casing under pressure and it is desii-able,` therefore, that means be" provided for preventing spraying or splashing of this water or washing solution outside of the casing. With this object in view I provide'suitable doors which,

when in closed position, effectively cover the opens 1 ings 9 while permitting ready insertion of articles into the casing and removal of the washed articles from the casing. j

"A hanged journal box II, closedat its outer end, is bolted or otherwise suitablysecured to the upper ycorner portions `of the front and back wall of the casing. adjacent corner post 2.' lThese journal boxes receivethe rounded ends of rods I2 of square cross section which extend transversely of the casing parallel to and adjacent top plate Ia 40 thereof. The rounded endslof the rods provide gudgeons I3 which extend through the `front and back walls of the casing and into the Journal boxes II in whichr the rods are rockably mounted. swinging movement about axes `extending transversely of the casing. Each door comprises an upper member Il formed of sheet metal, this upper member being relatively rigid, and a lower readily flexible member in the Iform of a curtain I5. This curtain may be formed of rubber or of suitable fabric, such as canvaaand is preferably detachably secured to the member Il at the lower edge thereof by means ci snap fasteners com'- prising socket members It secured to the vcurtain 65.`

These rods support the doors `for 45 and cooperating studs I1 secured to member I4.

at its upper end at right angles to provide a flange I8 which is suitably secured to one face of rod I2. 'I'he door structure is thus securedto the supporting rod therefor, at its upperportion, for swinging movement transversely of the casing for opening and closing the door. When the door is in closed position, the-curtain I5 depends from member I4 and extends therefrom to the upper face of an end shelf I9 suitably secured to the outer face of the end walls I0 of the tank Ib, s

as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The curtain l5 is of suitable height to permit ready passage beneath the same, or, more correctly stated, beneath the member Il of the door, of the baskets or trays containing the dishes and other articles to be washed.

An arm 2|) is suitably secured to each rod |2 adiacent front plate or wall 2| of casing I. 'Ihis arm isl pivotally secured at its outer end, at 22, tothe outer end V.of a link 23, the inner end of which is secured by pin and slot connections 24,

toan arm 25 extending radially from a head 26 n secured upon the inner end'of'a stub shaft 21. The two arms 25 are disposed in opposite relation and are aligned diametrically of head 26. n turning the stub shaft 21 in proper direction the doors at the ends of the casing are operated simultaneously and similarlyfor covering and uncovering the openings il.l Y

Stub shaft 21 is rockably mounted in a fianged bearing sleeve 29 secured to front wall 2| of the casing, at the outer face thereof, in a suitable manner as by bolt and nut means.` A packing nut 30 screws upon the outer end of sleeve 29 and serves to compress a packing member about lthe stub shaft 21 in a known manner so as to form a water-tight closure about the shaft in a manner wellunderstood in the art. An operating handle or lever 3| is secured upon the outer end of stub shaft 21 in a suitable manner for turning the same. When the lever 3| is turned into substantially horizontal position as indicated in Fig.

' cured to the inner faces of the front and back walls of the casing, these strips projecting inwardly of the casing a short distance beyond the corner posts 2, as shown in Fig. 1. To close the doors the lever 3| is moved ina clockwise vdirection as indicated in Fig. 4.

- The doors, when closed, are held in this position by their own weight due to the leverage effect exerted thereby on the rods I2. To open the doors the lever 3| is moved in a counterclockwise direction, thus swinging the doors upwardly and outwardly into substantial parallelism with the topplate Ia of casing l. When the doors `are in full open position the arms 25 are in substantially horizontal position. The pin and slot connections between the arms 25 and the links 23 permit continued movement of these arms into substantially horizontal position so as to bring the points of connection between the links and the ,arms approximately on dead center and at opposite sides of the rstub shaft 21. The lever 3| is so disposedy upon stub shaft 21 as to be, at this time, in vertical position and acts, byits weight, to hold the stub shaft against reverse turning movement. Under such conditions the doors are effectively locked in open position and accidental closing thereof is prevented. This is advantageous in permitting ready access to the interior of the machine when desired or necessary. It is to be particularly noted that both of the doors are operated by the single lever 3|, the operation of these doors being similar and 5 simultaneous. This is advantageous, particularly when the machine is being used by one operator only.

By a single operation of the" lever Il 'substantially the full area of each end of the casing is 10 uncovered, thus permitting ready access. to the interior of thecasing and also admitting ample l light to the casing from both ends thereof. During washing of articles in the machine both of the doors are in lowered or closed position and 15 the trays or baskets containing the articles are slid into the casing upon the tracks 3, the articles passing beneath the upper door sections or members I4. `During insertion of the articles the curtain I5 is momentarily' raised but immediately 20 drops back into operative position by its own weight. After4 the articles have beenwashed and rinsed they may be removed from the casing at the other end thereof or, if desired, from the same end from which such articles were inserted. into 25 the casing. 'I'he casing may be of suitable length to receive'two or more containersor trays. When there are several trays of articles in the casing to be removed, this can be readily, accomplished by turning the lever 3| in proper direction to open` 30 the door and the trays of the washed articles can then be removed with facility from either end of the casing. 'I'his is particularly advantageous in small machines intended to be oper-A ated by one person. 85

While I have illustrated and described a specific form of my invention I do not desire tobe limited to such form since various changes can be resorted to in the construction and arrangement Y of parts thereof without departing from the spirit 40 and scope of my invention. Y

In its broader aspects, my invention is intended to cover any suitable means whereby doors or closure members applied to washing machines and similar apparatuses used for washing dishes, metal 45 I parts, or other articles, are conveniently opened and closed in such manner as to facilitate operation thereof and access to theinterior of the casing or housing of the machine.

What I claim is: 50

1. In a washing machine, a casing having end openings for insertion and removal oi articles to be washed, doors for said openings, a door operating lever for closing and opening the doors, a `pair of oppositely related arms secured to the lever, 55 links connected at their outer ends to the doors, and lost motion connections between the `inner ends of the links and the respective arms,the connections between the links and said arms being disposed substantially on dead center between the fulcrum of the lever and the connections of the links with the doors when the doors are in full open position.

2. In a washing machine, a casing having end s 4openings for insertion and removal of articles to 65 be washed, rotatable door rods extending transversely of the casing adjacent said openings, doors carried by the rods and rotatable therewith, arms secured tothe rods adjacent one wall of the casing,V a stub-shaft rockably mounted through closing the doors in accordance with operation of the lever. r i

3. Ina washing machine, a casing having end openings for insertion and removalof articles to be washed, 'rotatable door rods extending transversely ofthe casing adjacent said openings, doors carried by the rods and rotatable therewith, arms secured to the rods adjacent one wall of the casing.` a stub-shaft'rockably mounted through said wall, an operating lever secured on the outer end of the shaft, oppositely disposed arms secured on the lnner end of the` shaft, and links connecting` the shaft arms to the respectivearms of the door rods for simultaneously opening and closing the doors in accordance withoperation of the lever, the

innerends of the links being on substantially dead center between the shaft and the connections of the links with said door rod arms, when the doors are open. i

4'. In a washing machine, a casinghaving end v openings for insertion and removal of articles to be washed, rotatable door rods extending trans-` versely of the casing adjacent said openings, doors carried by the rods and rotatable therewith, arms secured to the rods adjacent one wall ofthe casing, a stub shaft rockably mounted through said Wall,

an operating lever secured on the outer end of` the shaft', oppositely disposed arms secured `on the innerend of the shaft,rand links pivoted at their outer ends tothe arms of the respective door rods and having their inner ends connected to` the shaft arms by pin and slot connections, the inner ends of the links being substantially on dead center between the shaft and the connections of the links withl said door rod arms, when the doors are open.

5. In a washing'machine, a casing Vhaving end` openings for insertion and removal of articles to be washed, doors for said openings, a `rockably mounted operating shaft, oppositely disposed arms secured tothe shaft, operating connections between the arms and the doors; said connections comprising` links having their inner-,ends connected tothe respective arms, andan operating lever secured to the shaft, said lever bein;r disposed vertically and depending from the shaft and the inner ends of the links being substantially on dead center, between the shaft and the connections of the links with the doors, when the doors are open.

6. In a washing machine, a casing having end openings for insertion and removal of articles to be washed, journal boxes secured to the front and` back walls of the casing and closed at their outer ends, door rods extending transversely of the casing adjacent the top of the respective openings and rockably mounted in said boxes, doors secured to said rods, arms secured to the rods adjacent the front wall of the casing, a bearing sleeve secured to the front wall of the casing, a stub shaft rockably mounted through the sleeve and projecting into the casing, a pair of oppositely disposed arms secured on the inner end of the shaft, links connecting the shaft arms to the arms of the rods, an'operating lever secured on the outer end of the shaft, and means forming a water tight closure about said shaft.

'1. In a washing machine, a casing having end openings for insertion and removal of articles to be washed, doors for said openings, a bearing sleeve secured to the front wall of the casing, a stub shaft rockably mounted in the sleeve, said sleeve having means associated therewith for forming a water tight closure about the shaft,

operating connections between the stub shaft and s the doors, and a door operating lever secured on the outer end of said shaft. l

'8. Ina washing machine, a casing having end openings for insertion and removal of articles to be washed, doors for said openings comprising up- 5 `per relatively rigid members and lower readily vflexible curtain members depending from said v ing or `closing `said doors.

9. `In a washing machine,a casing having end openings for insertion and removal of articles tobe washed, doors for said openings comprising upper relatively rigidmembers and lovrer readily flexible curtain members depending` from said upper members, said curtain members beingof a height to permitipassage of the articles beneath the upper members of the doors when said doors are closed, 'said upper members of the doors being mounted at their upper portions for swinging movement on axes extending transversely of the casing, and means for imparting-simultanei ous andsimilar swinging `movement to the doors for opening and closing them.

l0. In a washing machine. a casing having end openings for insertion and removal of articles tobe washed, and. doors for said openings comprising upper relatively rigid membersand lower readi.y iiexible curtain `members depending from said upper members, said curtain members. being of a heightA to permitpassage of `the articles beneath the upper members of the doors whensaid doors are closed;

11. In awashing machine, a casing having end openings for insertion and removal of articles to be washed, `do'orsfor said openings swingable `about axes disposed `transversely of the casing ing` the doors in opposite directions for opening' and closing' the end openings of said casing, said `mechanism including weighted link means associated with said doors tending to openl the latter and so angularly arranged that, when the doors are in their closed position, the weight of theV doors overcomes the weight of said means, whereby the doors are held closed against the force of said weighted link means tending to open i them.

12. In a washing machine, a casing having end openings for insertion and removal of articles to be washed, doors for said openings swingable about axes disposed transversely of the casing and adjacent the top thereof, and means connected with the upper portion of said casing and connected with the upper ends of said doors adjacent the pivotal axes thereof for simultaneously swingo0 ing said doors in opposite directions to open and close the end openings of the casing, said means comprising operating mechanism disposed within said casing and an` operating member disposed externally of the casing and connected with said 05 operating mechanism to actuate the same.

13. In a washing machine, a casing having end openings for insertion and removal of artil cles to be washed, oppositely swinging doors for said openings, and means for operating said doors in opposite relation comprising a freely swingable rockable operating member and operating connections between the member and the doors, said connections being disposed at opposite sides of the axis of the rocking movement o! and reacting against said member and substantially on dead center therewith when said doors are in open position, said member extending` downwardly with-respect to its axis when said doors are open and being effective by virtue of its downward position for maintaining` said dead center relationvagainst the reactionl of saidV connec- 14. In a washing machine, a casing having end openings for insertion and removal of articles to be washed, rotatable door rods extending trans-*lj* versely of the casingadjacent said openings, doors carried by the rods and rotatable therewith, arms Y secured to the rods 4adjacent one wall of the casing, a freely swingable member rookably mounted on said wall and carrying substantially oppositely disposed arm portions and a depending handle portion, and links pivoted at their outer ends to the arms of the respective door rods and having their inner ends connected to said oppositely disposed arm portions and reactingagainst said portions in substantially dead center relationship with respect to the axis of rocking movement of said member, whereby the dependent handle portion is effective to hold the' doors open. l y

15,. In a washing machine, a casing having end openings for insertion and removal of articles to be washed, rotatable door rods extendconnected to said arm portions,` theangular re`` lation. between said arm portionsand the arms on saidl rods andv the lengths of said links beingsuch that, when the doors are closed, the angle between each of said links and the associated arm portion is `approximately a right angle and the angle between each link and the in elevated position, the `connections also being such that when the doors are in their open posi- 45 tion the arm portionsof said freely swingable lmember and said links are substantially in dead center relationship, wherebythe depending han` dle portion is enabled to exert sumcient force to hold the doors inA theirfopen position. i

16. In an apparatus. having a doormeans f swingably mounting said door for movement abouta generally horizontal axis` at the upper portion of the door, and controllingmeans for the door comprising a freely swingableA member mounted for swinging movement about a geri-` erally horizontal axis and including an' arm por-K tion and a depending weighted portion, anda link pivotally connected with said armportion and said door, the'angular relation between said 20 link and said arm portion being such that-when the door is in raised position, said link and said arm portions are in a Ysubstantially straight line position, whereby the. weight of said depending portion is sufiicient to` hold the door in its raised position, and when the door is in its closed position the link is disposed substantiallyl at right angles to said arm portion, whereby the Weight l of the door is suiricient to overcome the tendency of the weighted dependent portion to open the same. f v Y 17. Door operating linkage for a door adaptedto be raised and lowered, said operating linkage comprising a freely swingable member having an operating arm and a dependent handle portion,35 and an operating connection between said arm and said door comprising a link having its iner end pivotally connected to said arm, said handle portion being disposed vertically'and said linkV and said arm being substantially in dead center 40m 

